The Irish standard., 1887-06-25
PRESIDENTIAL TURNoUTs.

the morning, and always saw that they
had their breakfast before he took his own.
He kept thoroughbred horses, and his es-
tablishment at Mount Vernon was much
like that of great English Lord. He had
his pack of hounds, and before the revo.
luton he was very fond of fox hunting.
He followed the hounds everywhere, and
was always in at the death. He had q reg
ular hunting costume, and his IA
vorite hunter was fiery, long-limbed
horse which he called "Blue-skin," prob
ably from its color, fine, dark
iron gray. His hunting costume was
blue coat, scarlet waistcoat, buckskin
breeches and top boots. He wore velvet
cap, and carried a whip with long thong.
He ridiculed the idea that he could be
thrown, and he was wont to say that he
required one good quality in horse, name
", sit must go along" 1t was his custom
at Mount Vernon, prior to the revolution,
chased was made up of gray foxes and
stags His last hunt was in 1785, when h6
killed stag weighing 148 pounds.
Thomas Jefferson kept the finest Of
horses in his stable, and he paid very high
prices for some Of them. At the time Of
his Inauguration he rode to the capitol on
his favorite saddle.horse, Wild Air, aud
the generations Of patriots since then have
delighted in recounting the Jeffersonion
simplicity with which he jumped from his
horse himself, and, tying him to the fence
with his own hands, walked into the capi-
toL The truth, however, is that this act
was forced upon him He had hoped to
drive to his Inauguration in fine turn out,
and his son-in-law, Jack Eppes, had been
sent off to buy four coach horses at price
of 81, 600, but did not return to Washing
ton in time, and thus the President rode
on horseback.
While Jefferson was President he took
horseback rides every afternoon from one
until three and he kept up this riding on
horseback until within three weeks Of
his death. He was a bold and fearless
riier and delighted in riding alone
John Q lihcy Adams was entertained by
horse races, and he used to walk out to the
Homestead race-course, two miles from
there was race to be held. Mrs Madison
drove out to see the races in a chariot with
four gray horses, and President Jackson
not only went to see the races, but delight.
ed in betting on them, and now and then
ran his own horses.
Martin Van Buren, had fine turnout
while he was in the White House. His
carriage was of dark olive hue, with or.
naments as bright as FURNISHED gold. He
had footman and q coachman in livery,
and he rode about in grand style.
When Harrison came to Washington to
be inaugurated, he walked from the depot
into the city, and on the day of his inaugu-
ration refused to ride in fine carriage
which, with its four fiery horses, had been
presented to him for this purpose by the
Wings of Baltimore. General Harrison
had pronounced ideas Of his own as to how
the President of the United States should
act and speak. He Thought it was more
becoming for the President to ride to his
Inauguration on horseback, as the Roman
Emperors used to pass along the Appian
Way.
President Tyler brought to the White
House the customs of his old Virginia
home. A great deal of comment was
made on one of his carriages, which was
bought at the sale of the effects Of Mr..
Paulding, the Secretary of the Navy under
Van Buren.
President Polk kept good turnout at
Washington. He had carriage of dark
olive, highly polished, and with gilt bor-
ders around the panel work. The cushions
Of the interior were of rich-fgured GRIM
son cloth with lacs trimmings, and the
windows had curtains Of blue and rel
figured stuff. He drove four horses, and
his equipage was one of the sigh Is.
President Zack Taylor brought to Wash
ington the old horse which he h I'd used in
the Mexican war. He was hne-looking
horse, as white as snow, and full Of spirit;
he pricked up his ears at martial music,
and followed the remains Of his master to
the grave, being led directly behind the
funeral-car, which was drawn by eight
white horses.
During the Administration Of Pierce the
Presidents stables were directly below the
White House, and they were in charge Of
. gray haired coachman who still lives in
Washington, and who delights in talking
Of the Presidents he has served. "Presi-
dent Pierce,'' he says, twas fine horse
back rider, and ] can see him now 40 he
used to walk down to the stables every
morning with his whip in his hand. He
would come in and pat the horses and say:
We'll, Thomas, will you saddle my horse
for me, pleaseR> and then he would stroll
away to look at the garden, which then
lay between the White House and the
Treasury, while his horse was being pre-.
pared for him.
tsPresident Buchanan" continued the
old coachman, chad q magnificent turnout,
and one Of his sets of harness cost him
$500. It was made as present for him
by Philadelphian, but it was President
Buchanan,s custom not 70 receive pres.
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